Begin the study with prayer. Some possible petitions might be: 1. Thanksgiving for the death and
resurrection we have experienced in Jesus. 2. Supplication that the Lord would guard our tongues that sentences of life, as opposed to sentences of death, might flow from them. 3. Others?
REVIEW:
1. Have someone identify the five principles of guarding one's conversation. Then, have the group explain each principle and its role in the process.
2. Review memory work: Psalm 119:9-11, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 16:18, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:21, Proverbs 4:23, Psalm 73:26, Romans 8:5-6, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 6:13, Proverbs 18:21 and Proverbs 16:18.
3. Ask the group some random questions from the previous lessons.
PRAYER: THE EXAMPLE Luke 6:12
* How does Jesus' use of prayer accentuate our need to pray?
If Jesus, who was the perfect Son of God, found it necessary on occasion to pray all night, how much more do Christians, who are sinners, have a need to diligently pray.
* How many people here have continued all night in prayer? What do you think is the average amount of time most professing Christians spend in prayer each day?
* How is pride the root of most prayerlessness?
When we pray we are acknowledging our dependency on God. A person who does not pray either consciously or sub-consciously is saying, "I do not need the strength and wisdom of God in my life."
PRAYER: THE OFFER Matthew 7:7-8
* What motivation can be found in these verses to pray?
God binds Himself with promises to answer the prayers of His children.
* Can it be said, then, that there is a great deal of power in prayer?
Not really. Prayer has no power in and of itself, it is the vehicle by which we have access to the
omnipotence of God. Under certain conditions praying can be a waste of breath, as we will see later.
PRAYER: THE ABUSE II Chronicles 16:12-13
* Why did Asa die?
While the foot disease eventually killed him, the real reason why he died was because he did not seek the Lord in prayer.
* Does this mean we shouldn't go to the doctor when we are sick?
No! It means we should go to God in prayer first.
* How could praying to God before we go to the doctor possibly save us money?
God might choose to heal us outright, without medication or a doctor, thereby saving us doctor's and prescription fees.
Lord, teach us to pray!
Introduce the next passage by saying there are many misconceptions about
prayer forms. The Bible declares there is only one form requirement when it
comes to prayer. Read John 16:23b and ask the following questions:
* What is prayer's only "form requirement?"
All prayer is to be offered in the name of Jesus.
* Why is all prayer to be prayed in the name of Jesus?
All human beings are sinners and no sinner has the right to ask anything of a holy and righteous God (see diagram #1). The only thing a sinner deserves from God is His eternal wrath and punishment.
When we pray in Jesus' name we and our prayers are sanctified through the forgiveness of sins bought with His blood (see diagram #2). Another pre-requisite for prayer, then, is saving faith.
* Does this mean that every prayer must end "in Jesus' name I pray. Amen." or else it will not be heard by God? What about the Lord's prayer?
When a person is a believer the blood of Jesus covers everything he does (except willful sin). Should a person not pray in Jesus' name the prayer is not nullified since the Christian wears Jesus' name and his whole life is being lived in Jesus' name. Thus, even the Christian's praying of the Lord's prayer is being done in Jesus' name. However, it is still a good practice to include Jesus' name in prayer since it is an ongoing reminder of how we came to have the privilege of prayer.
* What are some misconceptions people have that lead them to believe their prayers are not as "good" as the prayers of others?
1. Praying in archaic, King James English makes a prayer more acceptable to God (Dear God, we loveth You with alleth of our hearteth. Heareth our prayereth. Ameneth.) Of course, should a person desire to pray this way it is fine, but it adds nothing to the effectiveness of the prayer.
2. Flowery language makes a prayer more acceptable to God. (Oh, most Holy, eternal, ever-living, gracious, merciful and providential God, Who has justified all mankind through the vicarious atonement of Christ on the cross, hear the prayers of your humble and most grateful servants, etc.)
3. How long a person has been a Christian makes a difference. (God doesn't give the prayers of new Christians the same hearing as the prayers of long time Christians.)
4. Grammar makes the difference.
5. Church office makes a difference. (A pastor or elder's prayer will carry more weight than a lay person's.)
Now read Matthew 6:5-6 and ask the following questions:
* What three prayer problems are identified in this passage?
1. Prayer for show. (vs. 5)
2. Vain repetition. (vs. 7a)
3. Wordy prayers. (vs. 7b)
* Have there been some times when you have participated in public prayer and were uncomfortable? What do you think about praying before a meal in a restaurant? What about public prayer at a football game?
Jesus is not condemning all public prayer in this passage. He is only condemning public prayer
prayed for show. Public prayer is God pleasing when one's motives are pure. It is not out of line
to pray before a meal in a restaurant, as long as it is done humbly. Participating in prayers before
a football game is acceptable as long as the prayer is Christian.
* What about praying such prayers as "Come Lord Jesus be our guest and let this food to us be blessed" or "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord...?"
Prayers like these are not wrong in and of themselves, however, praying them "thoughtfully" every
day is very difficult. More often than not they become vain repetition.
* Why do people like to pray these prayers so much?
Such prayer is effortless because it requires little or no thinking, yet it still gives one the satisfaction
of having prayed.
* Are form prayers a necessary part of learning how to pray?
No! Form prayers become crutches for healthy people. If people would just pray from the heart from the start, their prayer life would mature much faster. This includes children. Children are far more
capable than most people realize of creating their own "heart prayers."
* Isn't the Lord's Prayer a form prayer? Should we stop praying it?
Jesus created what is known as the Lord's prayer to teach His disciples how to pray. It was meant
to be an example, not to supplant personal prayer. It beautifully illustrates many prayer petitions that
can and should be a regular part of our prayers. The story is told how Luther once bet a man a cow
that he could not pray the Lord's prayer without his mind wandering. The man prayed and at the
prayer's end Luther asked, "Well, did your mind wander?" The reply returned, "Yes, the whole time
I was praying I was thinking about what I would do with the cow you were about to give me." If
people really prayed the Lord's prayer from the heart their lives would be different; they would be
evangelistically oriented, content with one day's provisions, quick to forgive, etc. For most people
the Lord's prayer is just vain repetition.
* Does Jesus condemn lengthy prayers in verse 7b?
No, as we saw earlier, He spent a whole night in prayer. What He does condemn is the praying of
lengthy prayers with the thought such length in some way affects prayer's outcome.
Corporate Prayer
Explain that Matthew 18:19 addresses the topic of corporate prayer. Read the
passage and ask the following questions:
* What is the minimum requirement for corporate prayer to occur?
Two.
* Before corporate prayer commences, what should be done?
The petitioners should decide upon the prayer petitions and if the petitions are within the boundaries of God's will.
* When might such prayer occur?
1. It might occur when Christian friends are fellowshipping. (Do we always pray at the end of our fellowship evenings with friends?)
2. It might occur in a church gathering. (Is prayer always a part of every church gathering now? Has it been in all your church experiences or has it been a mere formality? If it has, what does this say to us?)
3. It might occur within a family. (Is it?)
4. Others?
* Why do people sometimes hesitate in participating in corporate prayer?
1. They don't understand its importance.
2. They are afraid their prayer will sound stupid.
3. They are afraid to speak in public.
4. Others?
* What sin is at the root of most corporate prayer hindrances?
Basically pride. We are afraid of what people will think of us.
PRAYER VARIABLES
Have the group discuss the conditions under which prayer might be rendered ineffective or be denied the petitioner. Then read the following four passages and identify the condition mentioned in each passage:
1. James 1:6-7 Condition: DOUBT
"God, if there is a God, help me, if You can. Amen."
2. Isaiah 59:1-2 Condition: OUTSTANDING SIN
This would include willful sinners and every area of life where unattended sins might reside. For example: A parent praying for the spiritual well being of his child but being unwilling to teach the child the Word of God. A businessman praying for business prosperity when he fails to support the ministry of the Gospel with his time, talents and treasures. A person praying for victory over a specific sin when he is not willing to study, meditate and strive for change.
3. James 4:2c Condition: PRAYER ABSTINENCE
We have not because we pray not.
4. I John 5:14-15 Condition: PRAYING OUTSIDE GOD'S WILL
Just as Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but Thine be done," the Christians prays with the same attitude, knowing that some things are within the boundaries of God's will for us and some aren't. (NOTE: There seems to be Biblical evidence that God, as a form of discipline, will meet His people's request even when it is not His will for them [e.g. I Samuel 8:1-22 & Psalm 106:13-15], but, of course, when He does this, the answering of the prayer becomes His will and serves His Holy purposes.)
* Are there some petitions that are always God's will for us if we are praying with a right heart? Are there some that are always uncertainties?
The forgiveness of sins, strength, daily bread, etc. are always within the will of God for the
Christian. Other blessings may not be such as a new house or car, longer life, certain spiritual gifts,
etc. (e.g. "Lord, please place a million dollars for me on the corner of First and Kingsley at 10:00
a.m. tomorrow.")
Have the group look at two examples of God's will determining how two similar
prayers were answered differently. Review the circumstances of Paul - II
Corinthians 12:7-10 and Hezekiah - II Kings 20:1-11. God purposes for us what
is best for us at the time. For one it may be enduring an affliction and for
another it may mean deliverance.
Conclude the study by reading I Thessalonians 5:17 and asking the following
questions:
* How often are we to pray?
We are to never stop. Our whole life is to be one prayer from beginning to end.
* How is this possible?
Prayer is not like a telephone conversation where we hang up on God the moment we say "AMEN." He is constantly in contact with us and we should constantly be in contact with Him. Our every thought, word and deed should be directed to Him and to His glory. One's thought can be an
ongoing conversation with the Lord.
Explain that our ongoing prayer might be thought of as less formal than those
prayers we have at our mealtime (I Timothy 4:4-5) or with others (Matthew
18:19), but prayer is prayer. Any communication with God is prayer. Be sure
and exercise what has just been learned by closing the study with prayer.
1. I spend, on the average, at least minutes a day in prayer.
2. I end all my prayers in Jesus' name. True or False
3. I find it difficult to pray orally without using a form (memorized) prayer. True or False
4. I find it difficult to participate in oral prayer for the following reasons: (If you have no hesitancy in
participating in oral prayer, omit this question.)
5. Recently God has answered the following prayer petitions:
6. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best it can be I rate my personal prayer life a .
7. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best it can be I rate our family prayer life a .
8. On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the best it can be I rate our church prayer life a .
9. Number the following prayer variables according to their influence in your prayer life:
Doubt
Outstanding sin
Prayer abstinence
Praying outside God's will
Day 1
* Review Lesson 8 using the Leader's Guide.
* Establish in your schedule specific times for personal and corporate prayer (if possible). Of course, the times you have established for deliberate meditation will be a part of your schedule.
* Remember, review your memory work every day this week.
Day 2
* Quickly review the Lesson 8 material by questioning each other on its content.
* Memorize John 16:23b.
* There are five basic types of prayer petitions: praise, confession, intercession, supplication and thanksgiving. We are going to be studying one type of petition each of the remaining days this week. A petition of praise is the glorifying of God for Who He is and what He does. Find these two reasons for glorifying God in Psalm 145:1-5, make up your own list of reasons to praise God, and spend time praising Him.
Day 3
* A petition of confession is a petition in which we confess specific sins we have committed. What promise is connected with such prayer petitions in I John 1:8-9. Why are these petitions so important? What happens to our life when there is a void of these petitions?
* Spend time reflecting on the course of your day, identifying as much sin in your life as possible and then going to your Lord with a repentant heart, seeking His forgiveness.
Day 4
* Memorize I John 5:14.
* A petition of intercession is a petition in which we pray for someone else (credo in Latin means "to stand" and inter in Latin means "between," thus, intercession is the act of standing between God and another person.) One example of intercession in Scriptures is found in Exodus 32:7-14. Study the passage, be encouraged by the power that is ours in the life of other people, and then draw up a list of intercessory petitions you might pray.
Day 5
* A petition of supplication is to ask God to supply (supplication) you with blessings to meet a specific need you might have. A good example of God answering a petition of supplication is found in I Kings 3:1-15. Read the passage, discuss it, create your own list of supplications and present them to the Lord.
Day 6
* Memorize I John 5:15.
* A petition of thanksgiving is the giving of thanks to God for the specific blessings God has bestowed upon you. If differs from praise in that petitions of praise concern mainly God's Personhood and how His attributes are manifested in this world while petitions of thanksgiving are the "Thank you's" for God's answering our prayers and meeting our needs. An example would be II Corinthians 9:10-11. Make up your own list of blessings God has especially bestowed upon you and then thank Him.
* How many days this week did you meditate? How faithful were you to your prayer schedule?